Apparatus for making sand molds



W. H. NICHOLLS APPARATUS FOR MAKING SAND MoLDs April 2s, 1925. 1,535,335

Filed NOV. lll, 1922 .6 Sh-emtSLSheei 2 l f Y G ftozuaap April 2s, 1925.

W. H. NICHOLLS Filed Nov. 14, 1922 APPARATUS FOR MAKING SAND MOLDS 46 ShetslShe'et 5 April 28, 1925 1,535,335

w. H. NlcHoLLs AFPARATUS Fon MAKING SAND Moms Filed Nov. 14, 1922 .s shetslsheet 4 3mm mkoz Clttozne p April 28, 1925. w. H. NICHOLLS APPARATUS FOR MAKING SAND MoLDs 6 t e e h S S t e h Sm 6W u x m Filed Nov. i4, 1922 DE DE :D DE D DDD DDD D DE DE El DE DE DE DE DE DE EU DE DE D `DDEE [ICICI EJIIIE] [313mm mmm CIDE mmm m :l mmm :l

3 noauto/L WENC/alls ttoznc sp Patented Apr. 28, 1925.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM H. NICHOLLS, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

APPARATUS FOR MAKING SAND IVIOLDS.

Application filed November f/'o all 'zo/rom t may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. NroHoLLs, a citizen of the United States, and resident of the borough of Brooklyn, in the Vcounty of Kings, in the city and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Imjnfovements in Apparatus for Making Sand Molds, of which the following is a specilication.

@ne of the principal objects of this invention is to provide a complete sand mold making apparatus mounted upon a wheeled truck adapted to travel on a track whereby the apparatus may be advanced, step by f step, to the sand supply and moved, step by step, away from the completed moldswhich are placed on the foundry floor in the rear of the apparatus.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sand mold making apparatus comi prising a mold jolting and squeezing` machine; a sand screen, a sand conveyor with i means for delivering the sand to the flasks of the jolting and squeezing machine; and mounting said apparatus on a wheeled truck whereby the entire apparatus may be ad vanced toward thesand supply and the completed molds may be placed on the foundry .tioor in the rear of the machine in position for the pouring operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a molding apparatus mounted on a wheeled truck and so arranged that sand may be fed into the machine at the front side thereof and the completed molds removed 'from the machine at the rear whereby the machine may be advanced toward the sand supply and the completed moldsremoved from the machine and placed upon the foundry floor in the rear of the machine, or otherwise conveniently disposed of.

There are many other objects and advantages of the invention, all of which will fully hereinafter appear.

ln the drawings, Fig. l is a front elevation j of the apparatus;

Fig. 2 a side elevation thereof; Fig. 3 a detail sectional view of the means for driving the sand screen;

Fig. l a partial vertical sectional view of the mold jolting and squeezing mechanism; Fig. 5 a plan view of the sand receiving hopper;

V14:, 1922. Serial No. 600,923.

Fig. G a vertical sectional view of one of the sand delivery chutes and its controlling gates;

Fig. 7 a vertical sectional view of the Sand receiving hopper showing one of the delivery chutes and its controlling gates in side elevation;

Fig. 8 a front elevation of the lower part of the apparatus;

Fig. 9 a diagrammatic plan view of the mold forming mechanism;

Fig. 1() a vertical sectional view of the lower portion of the sand conveyor and screening box;

Fig. 11 a plan view of the truck;

Fig. 12 a vertical sectional view of the truck on the line 12-12 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 a vertical sectional view of a por` tion of the truck taken on the line 13-l3 of Fig. l1;

Fig. lll a detail sectional view showing a slight modification in the mounting of the wheels of the truck;

Fig. l5 a diagrammatic plan view showing the operation of the complete apparatus; and

Fig. 16 a detail transverse sectional view of the conveyor driving mechanism.

Referring to the various parts by numerals, l designates a truck frame co1nprising two cross beams 2 and 3 and two con necting heads 4t and 5. Each head is formed `with an end bar 6, which bars are parallel and run fore-and-aftl of the machine.

Flach end bar is formed at its front and rear ends with a wheel housing 7 closed on its upper side and at its sides so that the wheel thereon will be protected from dirt and sand. Inthe inner and outer side walls ofl each of the rear wheel-housing is journalled a short shaft 8 on which is rigidly secured awheel 9. vThe shafts 8 are mounted in bearing boxes arranged in the side walls of the wheel housings; and between each bearing box and the adjacent top wall of the wheel housing is arranged a cushion block 11. As shown in the drawings the truck frame is a single casting, but it is manifest that it may be otherwise constructed, if desired.

As shown in Fig. 13 the wheel 9 is rigidly secured to the axle 8; and roller bearings l2 are mounted inthe side walls of Civ tit)

the wheel housing. In Fig. 14, the roller bearings 13 are mounted in the wheel and the axle is mounted in the bearing boxes l secured in the wheel housing. Either Ytorm of wheel mounting may be used. The wheels in the 'forward housings are secured to a single shaft or axle 14 which extends across the machine; and on this shalt is mounted a ratchet and pawl. mechanism adapted to be operated by a lever 15. By moving the lever back-andtorth the truck may be advanced on the track 1S toward the sand supply. Janyv form ot lever-operated ratchet-and-pawl device may be used. rlhis ratchet and pawl mechanism is preferably reversible so that the apparatus may -be moved forward `or rearward, as desired, by manipulating` the lever.

Each o't the truck heads 4 and 5 is formed with a circular socket 17 adapted to receive the base ot a mold making` mechanism. The two mold making mechanisms are alike and a description ot one will be suti'icient.

.llach of the mold making mechanisms consists o't a central supporting` cylinder 1S, the lower end of which lits in one oli' the sockets 17 ot the truck trame and forms a base or support tor the entire mold making mechanism. rlhis cylindrical support is formed with an annular exterior `flange 19 which rests on the upper surface of the truck; and securing vbolts are passed through said flange and into the apertures 2O in the truck to securely tasten the mold making mechanism in place. The lower end ot this supporting base or cylinder is closed by a transverse wall 21, andthe 4upper end oiE the cylinder is open. Formed integral with the cylinder 1.8 are laterally extending horizontal trames 22 and 23, said 'frames being toi-med at their outer ends with heads 24 and 4In the outer head portion 2t is Yformed a vertical socket to receive an upstamling rigid post 2G near the upper end. ot lwhich is rotatably mounted. a swinging` Ytrame arm 2T. The upper pressure head 2S is connected to the arm 2T by means ot a screw 29 threaded through a suitable bushing mounted in the arm. The pressure head 28 is so positioned in the arm that it may be brought directly over the center ot the cylinder 18 tor the squeezing operation. In the t'ree end ot' the trame arm 27 is rigidly mounted a depending rod 30 whose lower end is adapted to enter a notch 31 in the inner head 25 ot the trame 23. On the lower end of the rod 30 is secured a nut or collar which is adapted to engage .the under side of the head when the rod 30 is in the notch 31, said nut or collar receiving the thrust transmitted to the arm 27 during the squeezing operation.

1n the cylinder 18 is ,titted a large squeeriing piston 32 which is closed at its lower end and open at its upper end. The upward movement of the squeezing piston is limited by a headed bolt 33 which is rigidly mounted in the bottom wall olf the cylinder 18 and extends through an aperture in the bottom wall of the squeezing piston. A small vertically arranged cylinder 34 is formed in the center oit the squeeze piston, the upper end o'l this cylinder being open and the lower end thereof being closed by the bottom wall ot the squeezing piston (see Fig. 4). A short distance above the bottom ot this cylinder 34 is formed an exhaust port 35 which places the said small cylinder in communication with the interior o'tI the large portion of the squeezing piston and thence with the atmosphere. Mounted in the smaller cylinder 34 is a jolt piston 3G. This jolt piston is open at its lower end and is provided with a cross wall 3T a short distance from its lower end. Extending through this cross wall is an air supply pipe 8S which leads out through the upper end of said piston and to an air controlling valve mounted on the head 25, as will be more ull hereinafter described.

Formed integrally with the upper end ol the jolting piston 36 is a jolt and squeezing head 39. The lower end o'l this head is adapted to rest on the upper end oit the squeezing piston. The head 39 is formed with outwardly extending arms 40 which carry, at their outer ends, tubular sockets 41, as shown and described in my pending application for patent, Serial #sl-39,169, tiled January 22, 1921. Secured to the upper surface of the head 39 is a pattern plate holding trame Said trame is open and rectangular and is so arranged that its center is directly over the center ot the jolting piston 36. A pattern plate -l-l rigidly secured to the upper side ot the holding Vtrame and is lormed with out- .vardly extending ears /l-lwhich are perforated lo receive guide pins on the lask member ot the mold. 'the pattern plaie holding lrame is formed with sockets to receive the ends ot a heating element 4G which extends across the holding frame directly under and in contact with the under surface of the plate. The circuit wires 4T are connected to the heating element and lead to an operating switch 48 by means oi which the circuit, through the heating element, may be controlled.

ln the heads 24 and are lormed vertical sockets 49 in which are mounted vcrtiral plunger rods 50. The upper ends ot these rods are connected to the end bar 5l ol a tlask supporting 'lrame 52. The end barsot said trame are connected together by trout and rear bars so that the llask supporting trame is open and rectangular.

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This flask supporting frame surrounds the pattern plate holding fraine and in its normal, or at rest, position is in substantially the same horizontal plane as the holding plauc. 'lhe upper' surfaces of the front and rear bars of the flask holding frame are flush with the upperI surface of the pattern plate when the pattern plate is in position on its holding frame so that when a flask 415 is placed in position its side edges will rest directly on the upper surface of the pattern plate and its front and rear walls will rest on the front and rear bars of the flask supporting frame. The flask supporting franie is provided at each of its corners with a depending rigid guiding pin and these pins slide in the socket Lll carried by the head Zl0. When the flask holding frame is in its lowerinost position, in Fig. Ll, it rests directly on the upper ends of the sockets Lil so that said frame will partake of every movement of the pattern holding frame, except during the pattern drawing operation.

The sockets 49 are enlarged internally to forni a. large oil chamber Mounted in cach chamber 53 is a horizontal rock shaft 5a which carries a locking dog 55 which extends upwardly and outwardly and is adapted to engage one of a series of notches 5G in the rods 50. The rear ends of the rock shafts extend through the frames 22 and 23 and each carries a crank arn'i 57, shown in dotted lines in Fig. Zl. The outer ent s of these arms 57 are connected together by a link 58 so that said rock shafts will move in unison. Connected to the forward end of one of said rock shafts is a foot lever and eounterweight 59 which tends normally to throw the locking dogs into the notches 5G. liihen it is desired to release the locking dogs from the notches the foot lever is swung laterally.

During the jolting operation, which will he hereinafter described, the pattern holding frame and the flask holding frame are accurately guided by means of the jolt piston and the plunger rods 50. During the pattern drawing operation the pattern holding frame and the pattern plate are accurately holding frame and sliding in the sockets lll formed on the head 40. 1When the flask holding frame is permitted to drop down to its normal position V it is guided by the plunger' rods 50` and also by the guide pins which then inove downwardly in the sockets al. The construction and operation of this part of the inold forming inechanisn'i is clearly described in my tao-pending application, Serial #439,169 and need not be more completely described herein.

rlhe supply of compressed air to the jolt and squeeze pistons is controlled by a single valve (il) mounted ou the head 25 and operas shown guided hy pins secured to the flaskv ated by handle Gl. The supply of air to the squeeze piston is through pipe 62, while the supply of air to the jolt piston is through pipe 38. Air is exhausted from the squeeze piston through exhaust pipe G3. rl"he construction and operation of this air control valve is clearly set forth in my before inentioned pending application and need not be further described herein. Air is supplied to both control valves through pipe 63 which is flexibly connected by pipe 63h (see Fig. l5) to a suitable supply.

The operation of forming a inold may be briefly described as follows:

With the jolt and squeeze pistons in their lowermost position, as shown in Fig. Ll, the flask is placed in position on the pattern plate and on the flask holding frame. The flask is then filled with sand and the valve handle Gl is turned to permit air to pass through pipe 38 to lift the jolt piston. When the exhaust port 35 is uncovered air will exhaust and permit the jolt piston and the parts carried thereby to drop until the head contacts with the ripper end of the piston 32. This results in jolting the sand about the pattern. This jolting operation is continued until the sand is sufficiently packed around the pattern. The valve han dle is then turned to stop the jolting operation and the flask is then nicely and smoothly filled with sand. r)The pressure board 64; is then placed in position on the flask. The air valve is then turned to supply air through pipe 62 under the squeeze piston. This forces vupwardly the piston 32 which carries with it the head l0 and the flask carrying frame, until the pressure board 6a contacts with the pressure head 2S. rhe pressure head 28 is so positioned that when the squeezing operation is completed the dogs drop into one side of the notches in the plunger rods 50. Then the pressing operation is completed the air valve is turnedv to exhaust air from beneath pistou 32. This permits the piston and the head 2d, the pattern plate holding frame and the attached pattern plate, to drop, but the dogs 55 hold the flask carrying frame in its upper position with the result that the pattern is drawn from the sand in the flask and the nield is retained in its upper position.

lhen the drawing voperation is completed the arm 27 carrying theI pressure head 28 is swung forwardly, the rod 30 being released from the notch 3l in the head 25, and then the inold may be removed from the flask carrying f ame After the removal of the coinpleted mold the foot .lever 59 is operated to release the dogs 55 and the flask carrying frame is permitted to drop down into position to receive another flask.

The flask holding` frame is provided with a depending shield G5; and the frames 22 and 23 are provided with a depending shield CDL lllfi lill Y GG. These shields serve as a means to de` tlect sand and protect the mold making apparatus.

.Secured to the upper ends of the posts 2G is a rigid cross beam (Si, said beam rigidly connecting together tne two posts. This cross beam consists of two parallel bars placed a suitable distance apart and connected at their ends to castings GS which in turn are mounted on the upper ends of the post 2G. To the cross beam, and between the two bars there are secured two outwardly and downwardly inclining sand delivery chutes 69, the lower endsof these chutes open into sand boxes 'T0 securedin position between the bars of the beam GT. These sand boxes are located directly over the pattern plate holding means so that they will be in position to deliver sand directly into thetlaskswhen the tiasks are in position. Each sand box is-provided with a pair of gates 71 which are adapted to be opened and closed by means of a forwardly extending lever TQ. vrlhe gates of each pair are geared together, as at 73, so that they will open uniformly when one of the gates is moved by the lever 72. rlhe upper ends of thechutes (39 are connectedvtoa large centrally located delivery hopper 74. rlhis hopper is provided with a top plate .75 on which the sand-is dropped by a conveyor, which will be hereinafter described, said plate assisting in breaking up the sand and delivering it uniformly into Athe chutes.

In front of the molding apparatus is mounted an upwardly and rearwardly extending` elevator frame 76 which consists of two side bars supported at their lower ends by rearwardly and downwardly extending' bars T7 which arevconnected at their rlower ends to the truck frame; and at their upper ends by frame bars 7S which are connected to the forwaid sides of the cross beam GT. ln the upper and lower ends of the elevator frame are mounted drum shafts land S on which, between the side bars of the elevator frame, are mounted drums Si and v82,. (')ver these drums runs the elevator belt S3 carrying the elevator buckets Sit. (hi the upper drum shaftis-inounted a sleeve H5; and to this sleeve is secured a pulley 86 over which runs a belt ST `driven by an electric motor mounted on a frame 89 supported at the it'orward side of the elevator frame 76. The motor is controlled through a switch box rigidly secured in the support S9 or to the elevator frame. rFhe circuit wires 91 may be as long as desired, or as may be necessary, to give the apparatus the desired range of movement without disconnecting it from the source of electric current. 0n the sleeve is secured a gear wheel which meshes with a small wheel 93 mountedon a cross shaft supported in the elevator frame. 0n the other end of this cross shaft is secured a gear (Jl which in turn meshesl with the gear 95 rigidly connected to the drum shaft 70. The purpose of this cross gearing is to drive the elevator at a reduced speed. The upper end of the elevator buckets will kbe dumped directly .over the plate T5 and will then drop into the hopper 7st.

Secured to the lower end of the elevator frame and projecting forwardly therefrom is a `large sand receiving hopper 96, the front wall of said hopper being` cut out as at 9T. The bottomof this receiving hopper inclines inwardly and downwardly and is connected to a contracted, downwardly and rearwardly curved, throat 0S through .which the buckets S5 pass as they enter thehoppcr and pick up sand, as clearly shown in Fig. l0. l'lounted in suitable bearings securedto the elevati-ir frame is a horizontal shaft 5)!) which extends fore-and-aft of theapparatus and carries, at its forward end, a cylindrical sand screen drum or riddle 100. The forward end of this riddle is open and is arranged close to and concentric with the cut out portion 0T of the front wall of the hopper 96. `he shaft 99 is so .located that substantially one hal" of the riddle is within the hopper and below the upper edge thereof. rFhe front or forward side of the riddle is open to permit sand to be readily thrown therein from the forward side of the apparatus T he riddle is rotated by means of a worm `gear 1.01 mounted on the shaft 99 and driven by worin 102 which received its motion through a beit 103 connected toa pulley 101 mounted on the sleeve 85. rI7he worm 102 is provided with a small pulley 105 in order to give the desired speed of rotation to the worm.

As illustrated in Fig. 15 this apparatusis adapted for -nse on an endless track laid on the foundry floor, with the molding sand piled between the tracks as at A. The molding apparatus is mounted to run on the tracks and to be moved toward the sand supply. The sand is shovelled directly into the riddle or screen 100 where it, is broken up `and delivered into the -hopper from which it ispicked up by the elevator buckets. These buckets deliver the sand into the hopper 'lll and it:theu `passes down the chutes G9 into the sand boxes. The operator releases the rodslt) and swings the cross arms Qcarryingthe pressureheads 28, rearwardly, as indicated in Fig. 9, to take the pressure heads 28 `out ofthe vertical plane of the flasks. The gates 71 are then opened to permit the sand to drop into the flasks. 'l`he air valves are then operated to admit air to the jolting piston for the jolting operation. After the jolting operation, if more sand is needed to lill the tiasks, the gates 71 are again opened. The pressure yboards are then placed on the yflasks and the air valve operated to admit air to the squeezing piston. After the squeezing operation the flask holding frames are locked up by the titl dogs so that when the air valves are turned to exhaust air from beneath squeeze pistons the pattern plate holding means will drop and withdraw the patterns. The flasks are then removed by the operator and placed on the floor of the foundry in the rear of the apparatus ready for pouring. The flask holding means is then released by the operator through the foot levers 59. As soon as the flask holding means have returned to their normal positions the a ms 27 are again swung rearwardly and a new set of flasks are placed in position. Of course, before the squeezing operation the arms 27 are swung rearnfardly to bring the rods 30 into the notches 31 of heads 25. As the sand supply used up the apparatus is advanced along the track by operating the lever l5.

After the pouring operation is complete and the molds are cooled sufficiently, the flasks are emptied between the tracks at the rear of the molds and the emptied flasks placed along the side of the track in position tobe picked up by the operator as the apparatus moves along the track.

tt is manifest by means of an apparatus constructed and arranged as described herein, the molding operation may be carried on very rapidly and a great many molds produced with a minimum amount of labor. It is further manifest that there is a great advantage in mounting the completed mold making apparatus on a wheel truck so that it may be advanced step by step toward the sand supply and away from the storage of completed molds. In this way the foundry floor may be used as a pouring floor and the pouring operation may follow the meld making operation without any unnecessary entra handling of the molds. In Fig. l5, B designates the completed molds ready for the pouring operation; and C designates the empty 'flasks arranged along the sides of the track ready to be picked up by the mold making operator. After the molding operation the flasks are emptied between the tracks, as indicated at D at the rear of the pouring operation.

rlhe electric circuit wires and the air supply hose are connected to the sources of supply at some central point, indicated at E in Fig. l5, in order to permit the molding apparatus to make its circuit on the tracks.

ln very narrow foundry buildings the apparatus may be arranged to operate on a single track. lilith this arrangement, however, it is necessary to provide a suitable lifting crane to pick up the molding apparatus when it has completed one trip and carry it back over the molding floor to the place of beginning. By arranging the apparatns on an endless track the operation may be continuous and the apparat-us may be used to its fullest capacity. The sand is fed into the front of the machine as it is moved along and tlieremoval of the sand from the floor leaves the floor space in the trackway at the rear of the machine smooth and level. rlhis floor space is thus rendered lit to serve as a pouring fioor for the completed molds taken from the rear of the machine. It is thus possible to utilize the 'licor space both at the front and the rear of the machine for holding the sand and the molds and no foundry space is wasted.

It will be observed that the apparatus is so designed that the mold flask may be filled and the jolting, squeezing and pattern withdrawing operations performed without the necessity of shifting the flask after it has been once placed upon the machine.

lhat I claim is `1. A mold making apparatus comprising a wheeled truck, a pneumatically operated mechanism for jolting and then squeezing the mold and means for withdrawing the pattern from the completed mold all mounted on the truck, a sand delivery hopper supported on Vthe truck above the mold making mechanism, a gate to control the discharge of sand to the mold making mechanism, a sand receiving hopper supported by the truck and in front of the mold making mechanism, a sand riddling means in said hopper, a conveyor mounted on the truck and arranged to take the sand Vfrom the receiving hopper to the delivery hopper, an electric motor supported by the truck, driving means connecting said motor to the conveyor and to the sand riddle, a flexible hose connection between the pneumatically operated mold making mechanism and a source of air supply, circuit wires i connecting the electric motor to a source of electric current, and means for advancing the truck, step by step, toward the sand supply.

2. A mold making apparatus comprising a wheeled truck, a pneumatically operated mechanism for jolting and then squeezing the mold and means for withdrawing the pattern from the completed mold all mounted on the truck, a sand delivery hopper supported on the truck above the mold making mechanism, a gate to control the discharge of sand to the mold making mechanism, a sand receiving hopper snpported by the truck and in front of the mold making mechanism, a sand riddling means in said hopper, a conveyor mounted on the truck and arranged. to take the sand from the receiving hopper to the delivery hopper, an electric `motor supported by the truck, driving means connecting said motor to the conveyor and to the sand riddle, a flexible hose connection between the pneumatically operated mold making mechanism and a source of air. supply, circuit wires connecting the electric motor to a source of electric current., and manually operable means for advancing the truck, step by step, toward the sand supply.

3. A' mold making apparatus comprising a wheeled truck, a pneumatically operated mechanism for jolting and then squeezing the mold and means for withdrawing the pattern from the completed mold all mounted on the truck, a sand delivery hopper supported on the truck above the mold making mechanism, a gate to control the discharge of sand to the mold making mechanism, a sand: receiving hopper supported by the truck and in front of the mold making mechanism, a sand riddling means in said hopper, a conveyor mounted on the truck and arranged to take the sand from the receiving hopper'to the delivery hopper, an electric motor supported by the truck, driving means connectingysaid motor to the conveyor and to the sand riddle, a fiexible hose connection between the pneir matieally ope 'ated mold .making mechanism anda source of air supply, circuit wires connecting the electric motor to a source ot" electric current, an endless track ior said truck, and manually operable means for advancing said truck, step' by step, on said track and toward the sand supply.

t'. Al mold making apparatus comprising a truck termed with a head on each of its ends, transporting wheels mounted in each head, a pneumatically operated mold making mechanism mounted in each head, a sand delivery hopper'supported'by the truck above themold making mechanisms, a gate over each kmold making mechanism to contr'ol'the discharge of sandfrom said hopper to said mechanisms, a sand receivinghopper supportedy bythe truck in front of the mold making mechanism, aI rotatable riddle in said hopper, a conveyor' mounted on the truck and arranged to take the sand from the'receiving hopper t`o the delivery hopper, a motor supported by the'truek, and driving means connecting' said motor to the conveyor and to the sand riddle.

5; A mold making' apparatus comprising a truck formed with a head on each oi its ends, transporting wheels mounted in each head, a pneumatically operated mold making mechanism mounted in each head, upwardly extending vertical rigid posts secured to the outer en d olt the mold mechanisms, a rigid cross beamy connected to the upper ends of said' posts and extending over the moldmaking mechanisms, a sand delivery hopper above the cross beam, outvardly and downwardly extending delivery chutes connected to said hopper, sand boxes connected to said cross beam and enclosing the lower ends of the delivery chutes, said boxes being directly over the mold making` mechanisms, manually operable gates controlling the discharge of sand from the said sand'v boxes tothe mold making mechanisms.

a sand receiving hopper supported by the truck in front of the mold making mechanisms, a rotatable riddle in said hopper the forward side of said riddle being open, a conveyor mounted on the truck and arranged to take the sand from the receiving hopper to the delivery hopper, an electric motor supported by the truck, and driving n'ieansconnecting said motor to the conveyor and to the sand riddle.

G. A mold making apparatus comprising two'vertical posts, means for supporting the lower ends ot said posts, a cross beam rigidly connecting together the upper ends otsaid posts, a sand delivery hopper supported by said cross beam, two diverging discharge chutes connected to the lower portion of said hopper and extending downv wardly to the cross beam, manually operable sand gates arranged to open and close Jthe lower ends of said discharge chutes, a sand receiving hopper at the 'front oi the post supporting means, a sand riddle in sai-l hopper, a conveyor .trame rigidly connected to the said cross beam and to the said post supporting means and forming a support for the sandreceiving hopper said trame inelining upwardly and rearwardly, a conveyor mounted in said conveyor iframe and arranged to take sand from the receiving hopper to the delivery hopper, a motor mounted in the apparatus, and driving means connecting said motor to the con? veyor andto the sand riddle.

7. A mold making apparatus comprising two vertical posts, meansV for supporting the lower ends ot saidposts, a cross beam rigidly connect-ing together the upper ends ot said posts, a sand delivery hopper supported by said cross beams, two diverging discharge chutes connected to the lower portion ot said hopper and extending downwardly to the cross beam, manually operable sand gates arranged to open and close the lower endsot' said'discharge chutes, a sand receiving` hopper at the front of the post supporting means, a sand riddle in said hopper, a conveyor trame rigidly connected to the said cross beam and to the said post supporting means and forming a support for the .sand receiving hopper said iframe inclining upwardly and rearwardly, a conveyor mounted in said conveyor traine and arranged to ta ke sand from the receiving hopper to the delivery hopper, a motor mounted in the appa ratus, driving means connu-,ting said motor to the conveyor and to the sand riddle. and a mold making apparatus below each oi' the sand gates and arranged to receive sand from said gates.

8. A mold making apparatus comprising two vertical posts, means for supporting the lower ends or' said post, a cross beam rigidly connecting together the upper ends ot said posts. a sand delivery hopper supported by llll lng

said cross beam, two diverging discharge chutes connected to the lower portion of said hopper and extending downwardly to the cross beam, manually operable sand gates arranged to open and close the lower ends of said. discharge chutes, a sand receiving hopper at the front of the post supporting means, a sand riddle in said hopper, a con veyor trame rigidly connected to the said cross beam and to the said post supporting means and forming a support tor the sand receiving hopper said trame inclining upwardly and rearwardly, a conveyor mounted in said conveyor trame and arranged to take sand :trom the receiving hopper to the delivery hopper, a motor mounted in the apparatus, driving means connecting said motor to the conveyor and to the sand riddle, and a mold making apparatus below each sand gate and mounted on the post supporting means and arranged to receive sand trom said gates.

l). A mold making apparatus comprising two vertical posts, means for supporting the lower ends of said posts, a cross beam rigidly connecting together the upper ends et said posts, a sand delivery hopper supported by said cross beam, two diverging discharge chutes connected to the lower end ot said hopper and extending downwardly to the cross beam, a manually operable sand gate arranged to open and close the lower end ot each ot the said discharge chutes, a sand receiving hopper at the trent of the post supporting means, the front wall of said hopper being cut out, a horizontal rotatable sand riddle mounted in said hopper and having an open forward end adjacent the cut out portion et the said hopper and adapted to receive sand through said forward open end, aI conveyor frame rigidly connected to the said cross beam and to the post supporting means and toi-ming a sup port tor the sand receiving hopper, a conveyor mounted in. said trame and arranged to take sand troni the receiving hopper to the delivery hopper, a motor mounted in the apparatus, and driving means connecting said motor to the conveyor and to the sand riddle.

l0. il mold making apparatus comprising a base, a pair ot pneuuiatically operated mold making mechanisms mounted in said base, a sand delivery hopper centrally supported by the base above the mold making mechanisms, a pair ot diverging discharge chutes connected to the lower portion ot said hopper and extending outwardly and down wardly and having their lower ends directly over the mold making mechanisms, a manually operable gate arranged to open and close the lower end of each ot said chutes to control the delivery of sand to the mold making mechanisms, a sand receiving hopper supported by the base in front ot the a sand riddle in said hopper, a' conveyor supported by the base and arranged to take sand -from the reeeiving hopper to the delivery hopper, a motor supported in the apparatus, and driving means connecting said motor to the con veyor and to the sand screen.

ll. A mold making apparatus comprising two vertical pests, means for supporting the lower ends et said posts, a cross beam rigidly connecting together the upper ends oit said mold making mechanisms 1 posts, a sand delivery hopper supported by i said cross beam, a discharge chute connected to the lower portion ci: said hopper and extending downwardly therei'roin, a manually operable sand gate arranged to open and close the lower end of said discharge chute, a sand receiving hopper forward et the post supporting means, a sand riddle in said hopper, a conveyor trame rigidly connected to the said cross beam and forming a support tor the sand receiving hopper, said trame inclining upwardly and rearwardly, a conveyor mounted in said conveyor trame and arranged to take sand from the receiving hopper to the delivery hopper., a motor, and driving means connecting said motor to the conveyor and to the sand riddle.

l2. A mold making apparatus comprising a base; a mold making mechanism mounted upon the base; a sand delivery hopper located above the mold making mechanism, the said mold making mechanism being adapted to be operated to jolt and squeeze the mold and withdraw the pattern from the coniw pleted mold; means whereby sand may be delivered from the said hopper to the mold flask, the said sand delivery means and the said mold making mechanism being adapted to lill, jolt and squeeze the mold and withdraw Vthe pattern therefrom without shift ing the mold tlask upon the mold making mechanismt 13. A mold making apparatus comprising a wheeled truck; a mold making mechanism mounted upon the truck; a sand delivery hopper supported by the truck above said. mechanism; mechanical means supported by the truck for riddling the sand and elevating it to said hopper, the said mold making mechanism being adapted to be operated to jolt and squeeze Vthe mold and withdraw the pattern trom the completed mold; a man ually operable gate through which the sand is adapted to pass 'trom the delivery hopper to a mold flask placed upon the mold-making mechanism, the said mold making mechanism being adapted to support said flask in vertical alineinent with said gate during the lilling ot the flask and the jolting, squeez-` ing and patterirwithdrawing operations; and a mold pressure head supported by the truck and adapted to be moved laterally into llO and out et alineiiient with the gate and the flask.

l-ji. rit mold making apparatus comprising' a base; a mold making mechanism mounted upon the base; asand delivery hopper lolated above said mechanism; the said moldmaking' mechanism being' adapted to be operated to jolt and squeeze the mold and Withdraw the pattern trom the completed mold; a manually operable gate through which the .sand is adapted to pass from the said delivery hopper' to a mold iiask placed upon the mold making mechanism, the said mechanism being' adapted to support` the said flask in vertical alinement n'ith the said gate during' the filling' ot the iiask and the jolting, squeezing' and pattern-Withdraiving operations, and a mold pressure head adapted to be moved laterally7 into and out of alinement with the gate and the flask.

l5. A mold making' apparatus comprising' a truck, transporting wheels mounted on the truck, a mold making mechanism mounted on the truck, a sand delivery hopper supported by the truck above the mold making mechanism, means for controlling' the delivery of sand from the delivery hopper to the mold making mechanism, and a sand riddling' and elevating unit supported by the truck in advance ot the mold making' mechanism and adapted to deliver sand to the sand delivery hopper.

1G. A mold making apparatus comprising' a truck, transporting' wheels mounted on the truck, a mold making' mechanism mounted on the truck, a sand delivery hopper supported by the truck above the mold making mechanism, means 'for controlling' the delivery of' sand trom the delivery hopper to the mold making' mechanism, a sand elevating unit supported by the ti'uck in advance of the mold making' mechanism and adapted to deliver sand to the delivery hopper, sand riddling' means carried by the loiver end of the elevating unit and adapted to deliver sand to the elevator and a motor mounted on said unit and adaptedy to drive the elevator and the sand riddling' means.

1T. A mold making' apparatus comprising' a truck, transporting Wheels mounted on the truck, a mold making' mechanism mounted on thc truck, a sand delivery hopper supported by the truck above the mold inaking' mechanism` means 'for controlling' the delivery oi sand trom the delivery hopper to the mold making' mechanism, al sand elevator Supported by the truck in adi'ance ot the mold making mechanism and adapted to deliver sa ud to the delivery hopper, a rotary sand riddle carried by the elevator adjacent its lower end said riddle being' adapted to deliver sand to the elevator and being' 'formed with a t'ced opening' facing in the direction oi1 travel of the apparatus.

1S. A mold making' apparatus comprising a truck, transporting Wheels mounted on the truck, a mold making' mechanism mounted on the truck, a sand delivery hopper si* ported by the truck above the mold mal i mechanism, means igor controlling' the deliveryl ot'v sandv from the delivery hopper to 'the mold makine' mechanism, a sand riddling' and elevating' unit supported by the truck in advance ot the mold making' mechanism and comprising' a frame, a douiui'm'dly and ioruf'ardly inclined sand elevator supported by the frame and adapted to deliver sand to the delivery hopper, a rotary sand riddle mounted upon the t'rame adjacent the lower end ot the elevator and adapted to deliver sand thereto the said riddlel being' 'formed with a 'feed opening' facing' in the direction of travel ot the apparatus, and a motor mounted upon the trame and adapted to drive the riddle and elevator.

19. A mold making' apparatus comprising a truck, transporting wheels mounted on the truck, a pair ot mold making' mechanisms mounted end to end upon the truck transversely ot its direction of movement the said mechanisms being' pneumatically operated for jolting' and squeezing' the mold and ivithdrawing' the pattern from the completed mold', a pair ot pressure heads supported trom the truck and adapted to be moved laterally to operative or inoperative position with relation to the mold making mechanism, the said jolting, squeezing and pattern withdrawing' mechanisms and the said pressure heads being' adapted to be manipulated i'rom a point adjacent the center oi 'the truck.

20. A mold making' apparatus comprisii"v a truck, transporting wheels mounted on i: e truck, a pair ol" mold making' mechanisms mounted end to end upon the truck transversely of its direction ot movement the said mechanisms being' pneumatically operated for jolting and squeezing the mold and withdrawing' the pattern from the completed mold, an arch supported by the truck and extending' across the mold .making mechanisms, a sand delivery hopper supported upon said arch, means for controlling the delivery of sand from said hopper to the molds, a pair' ot arms pivotally mounted upon the sides ot the arch to swing laterally and extending inwardly toward cach other over the mold making' mechanisms, a pressure head supported by each oi. .Said arms said heads being adapted to bc moved to cover or uncover the molds b v swinging' (he arms, the sand jolting', squeezing and pai'- tern withdrawing' mechanisms and the said pressure heads being adapted to be manipulat-ed from a point adjacent, the center oi the truck, and means supporter by the truck and the arch at the 'ront ot the apparatus for riddling the sand and delivering it to the delivery hopper.

2l. A foundry method consisting in providing' a trackn'ay on a foundry door, placifo ing empty mold flasks on the foundry floor along said trackway, depositing molding sand on the foundry floor along said trackway in sufficient quantities to fill the adjacent mold flasks placed along the trackway, providing a wheeled sand-riddling and mold-forming machine on said trackway, said machine being adapted to be advanced step-by-step along the trackway toward the sand and empty flasks, taking the sand from the foundry floor in front of the mold forming machine and feeding said sand into the said machine, completing the mold forming operations in the machine, removing the completed molds from the rear of the machine and depositing Ithe said completed molds on the foundry floor in the space previously occupied by the sand pile and the empty mold flasks, whereby the foundry lloor along the trackway will .first be occupied by sand and empty flasks, then serve as the space for the mold forming machine, and will then serve as a mold pouring floor after the passage of the mold forming machine.

22. A foundry method consisting in providing a Itrackway on a foundry floor, placing empty mold flasks on the Jfoundry floor along said trackway, depositing` molding sand on the foundry iioor along said track- Way in suflicient quanti-ties to fill the adjacent mold flasks placed along the trackway, providing a Wheeled sand-riddling and mold-forming machine on said trackvvay, said machine being adapted to loe advanced step-loy-step along the trackway toward the sand and empty flasks, taking the sand from the foundry Hoor in front of the mold forming machine and feeding said sand into the said machine where it is riddled, elevated, fed vertically downward into the mold flask, and the `iolting.; squeezing and pattern withdrawing operations performed, removing the completed molds from the rear of the machine and depositing the said completed molds on the foundry floor in the space previously occupied by the sand pile and the empty mold flasks, whereby the foundry Hoor along the trackway will first be occupied by sand and empty flasks, then serve as the space for the mold forming machine, and will then serve as a mold pouring floor after the passage of the mold forming machine.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

WILLIAM H. NICHOLLS. 

